Start Here

DeFlock Wylie is a resident-led, nonpartisan civic-education campaign to end Flock Safety's automated license plate reader (ALPR) surveillance in Wylie, Texas. It is operated by Wylie residents under the name "Wylie Residents for Privacy." It is not affiliated with the City of Wylie, the Wylie Police Department, Flock Group Inc., or DeFlock.me.

What is Flock Safety?

Flock Safety (legally Flock Group Inc.) is a surveillance company that sells AI-powered cameras to police departments, businesses, and homeowners' associations. Its most common product is the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) — a camera that photographs and logs every passing vehicle's license plate, make, model, color, and distinguishing features, along with the time and location, and uploads that record to a searchable national database. Some Flock devices also include microphones marketed to detect "sounds of distress."

What is happening in Wylie?

The City of Wylie contracts with Flock Safety to operate ALPR cameras in the city. The contract was approved through a sole-source process rather than competitive bidding, and residents were never asked to vote on it. Records obtained under the Texas Public Information Act document the contract, the network audit logs, and the city's deployment. The cameras scan every driver — not just suspects — and retain that data, creating a movement history for ordinary residents who are not accused of anything.

Why does it matter?

• It is warrantless mass surveillance. Every driver is logged, with no warrant, no suspicion, and no public vote.
• The data is not secure. Independent researchers have repeatedly found Flock cameras exposed on the open internet without passwords, and law-enforcement credentials offered on dark-web markets.
• Access spreads. Data captured locally can be searched by outside agencies — including, in documented cases elsewhere, federal immigration authorities — through Flock's national network.
• It can be abused. ALPR systems have been used to track individuals for reasons that have nothing to do with public safety.

What does DeFlock Wylie want?

That the City of Wylie end its Flock Safety contract and decline to expand the ALPR network. The campaign supports lawful civic advocacy only: contacting elected officials, speaking at public meetings, filing public-information requests, and voting. It does not encourage tampering with equipment or any unlawful act.

Where to go next

• The Facts — sourced, dated claims you can quote and verify.
• FAQ — direct answers to common questions.
• Glossary — what ALPR, Flock, DeFlock, and other terms mean.
• Take Action — contact the Wylie City Council.